Manchester United shelve plans to expand Old Trafford

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Club owners, the Glazers, had entertained the prospect of adding a further 15,000 seats to the Theatre of Dreams, but the project has been deemed cost prohibitive

EXCLUSIVEBy Jamie Dunn

Manchester United have decided not to pursue plans to expand Old Trafford to an over 90,000 capacity stadium.

The Premier League leaders' ground currently holds 75,700 spectators, but club owners the Glazers have been keen to add a further 15,000 seats in order to add revenue streams.

A series of studies have been conducted in recent years to explore the possibility of enhancing the Theatre of Dreams by extending the South stand over a railway line which backs on to their home.

But adding an extra tier to the South stand would cost an estimated €37 million, with senior sources revealing the project would be cost prohibitive in the current financial climate, despite cheaper building costs being available to them, due to structural issues involved in enhancing the existing build.

Despite topping the table and comfortably securing progression to the Champions League last 16, Sir Alex Ferguson's side have seen a downturn in numbers from supporters in general, owing to the economic recession.

Goal.com revealed in the summer how the club were forced to mail fans to offer season tickets while redoubling their commercial efforts, with big business more conscious of forking out for corporate facilities.